The plan was unveiled following Central Retail Group signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 27 to consume early ripening lychees from the northern province of Bac Giang this year and to export these lychee batches into the group's distribution system.

Jose Mestre, Commercial Director Fresh Food of Central Retail Group, said the group's purchasing team already has made its presence in Bac Giang province to guide businesses and suppliers regarding the procedures to bring lychee products and other key agricultural products into the group's retail supermarket system.

Furthermore, in order to create added value for Vietnamese lychees, Central Retail has also introduced other products made from lychees, including lychee sponge cake, peach lychee tea, and lotus seed lychee tea.

Moreover, it has also co-operated with e-commerce sites, as well as through the apps of GO!, Big C, and Tops Market to promote lychee consumption via online channels.

During this year's crop, it will continue to promote the export of lychees from Bac Giang province to the Thai market through its retail system in Thailand.

In particular, Central Retail is set to deploy "Fruit Festival" across the entire GO!, Big C, and Tops Market supermarket chain nationwide as of June 30, of which lychees will be one of the key products.